# TI SensorTag vs LightBlue®

The clearest difference is rating: LightBlue® at 4.4 against TI SensorTag's 3.2. LightBlue® also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 31%) and ratings volume (942 vs 5). TI SensorTag's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

LightBlue® holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LightBlue® has 942 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of TI SensorTag's written reviews are positive against 66% of LightBlue®'s.

TI SensorTag ships an update every 3 months, LightBlue® every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TI SensorTag | LightBlue® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ti-sensortag/id552918064/reviews) | **[4.4 (942 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightblue/id557428110/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **942** |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **66.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 171 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Texas Instruments](https://appshunter.io/developer/329739753) | [Punch Through](https://appshunter.io/developer/557428113) |

## What reviewers say

### TI SensorTag

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ti-sensortag/id552918064)

This app connects to a Bluetooth Smart or WiFi SensorTag kit, allowing you to access and upload sensor data online within minutes. No programming is needed to get started, making it ideal for quick IoT development and testing.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth Smart and WiFi connectivity, 10 low power sensors, Online sensor data access, No programming required, Cloud integration, Open design files

**In-app purchases:** none


### LightBlue®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightblue/id557428110)

This app allows users to interact with Bluetooth Low Energy devices. It supports scanning for, connecting to, and analyzing BLE peripherals, as well as simulating your own BLE devices. It's a comprehensive tool for developers and enthusiasts working with BLE technology.

**Highlights:** Scan and discover BLE peripherals, Connect and view device profiles, Read and write characteristics, Subscribe to notifications, Create and advertise virtual BLE devices, Clone peripheral profiles, Log and share BLE events

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Found lost devices
- 🔍 Helpful for locating Bluetooth devices
- 👍 Works great
- 👍 Lifesaver
- 👍 Fantastic app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work with dead devices
- 🐛 Unreliable connection
- 🐛 Confusing to use
- 🐛 Doesn't work with all devices

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after updates
- Fails to connect Apple Pencil
- Doesn't detect all nearby devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually name devices
- More precise location tracking
- Integration with Siri/Shortcuts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TI SensorTag free?

TI SensorTag is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is LightBlue® free?

LightBlue® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TI SensorTag or LightBlue®?

LightBlue® is rated higher. TI SensorTag averages 3.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while LightBlue® averages 4.4 from 942 ratings.

### Do TI SensorTag or LightBlue® have ads?

Neither TI SensorTag nor LightBlue® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TI SensorTag or LightBlue®?

TI SensorTag ships an update every 3 months, and LightBlue® every 3 weeks. Most recently, TI SensorTag was updated on October 16, 2026 and LightBlue® on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*